Disclaimer: I really hope this has been shoved through your head enough already…I don't own it! 'kay! And, well, sorry it took so long for Chapter seven. I was hoping for some more reviews. Anyways…

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VII.

"Are you sure this is what ye want?" Kaede asked, looking out the doorway as the foursome outside looked at her.

"Yes, you old hag. Now quit asking questions and let us go." InuYasha barked, arms crossed, not wanting to have any second thoughts on his decision he already had contemplated enough. He gave her a glare and then turned to leave, leading the pack to find Kikyou. Miroku and Sango looked to him, and he stopped in his tracks. If Kikyou were to return Kagome's soul…

'I want to be the first to see her eyes open….' He thought to himself, looking back. He walked to the door and barged in to Kaede's hut, not saying a word. InuYasha looked down at Kagome, then kneeled, letting his hands slide under her knees and back, picking her up. He stood, Kagome in his arms, and walked back out into the sun's rays, looking at the group he would be traveling with.

"InuYasha, are you sure you want to take Kagome? It may not be safe…" Miroku started.

"It's fine." InuYasha snapped at him. "She'll be ok, I'll make sure of it."

"I know you will, but something could –"

"Nothing's going to happen." Interrupted not InuYasha, but Sango. "He of all people wouldn't let anything happen to her, you should know that." She continued. Sango looked to InuYasha, but he had looked down to Kagome who rest in his arms.

'You'll be back soon, just hold on a little longer.' He encouraged him and herself silently. InuYasha looked back to Kaede and gave her a nod, feeling some remorse for her since he was after all going to rid of her sister. Kaede returned the nod, almost reassuring him that is was okay.

"Let's go!" Shippou said impatiently.

"Fine. Come on." InuYasha said, holding Kagome a bit closer. Sango and Miroku said their goodbyes and thanks to Kaede before hopping on Kirara's back with Shippou. The sun was beginning to set as the group set off to the outskirts of Kaede's village, not giving anything a second thought.

But where to find Kikyou…. Where on earth would she be? Expecting him, maybe? Or not even anywhere near by. They could even be on a fool's quest and never run into her, and then Kagome would die…. There were so many risks and uncertainties, but he had to take them. For her sake. But what if it was a mistake? What if he messed up? It would mean her gone, wouldn't it?

"InuYasha, do you have any idea where we're going?" Sango yelled down from Kirara.

"No, no idea." He said looking up to her, being completely honest. "I'll tell you when I know."

'I have to pick up a scent, that's all. Then I'll know where she is and I can end this…'

But he still wanted to know why she had done it, and if his theory was right. He couldn't just kill her, he had to know before he drew Tessiga. Before he even thought of slashing her through, he wanted to make sure he could do it for the right reasons. All though, the hardest thing was to have to block out all sympathy for her. To not have any feelings of remorse or regret, but to get done what needed to happen and return Kagome to her original state. This was of course his plan, but right now it seemed completely impossible to do without hesitating.

Be he continued to remember who he held in his arms.

'No second thoughts. I can't allow it…it'll weaken me.' InuYasha thought. 'Now if I could just pick up her scent…but where would she be…?'

The group had gone past the outskirts of the town and entering a large forest – the one they had crossed through nights ago with absolutely no hope. And the scary thing was the feeling was beginning to return.

Then, for a sudden moment, InuYasha stopped dead in his tracks, sniffing the air, as he had caught on to something – her scent. He took a step back. It was very faint, but still, it was Kikyou's scent and must have lead to her.

"Did you watch on to something, InuYasha?" Shippou yelled down from Kirara.

"Yeah." InuYasha said, not looking up, but taking a few steps to his left, searching for a stronger smell. "Just follow me." He continued to Shippou.

"Okay!" he yelled down.

InuYasha turned to the right, continuing to search. And then suddenly, finally, he got a sharp scent a little more to the left. He bolted, knowing he with each step he was facing something he didn't want to do, a deed he didn't want to carry out. Her scent grew stronger and stronger, but still, no sign of her. Where did this trail lead? How long did it go on…?

He had been expecting a sign that she had been here, perhaps even a barrier, but she hadn't set anything up. Was she even expecting him to come and kill her off? It didn't seem to InuYasha that it was her plan to have herself die, but he remembered what he had thought earlier – Kikyou's plan may have backfired on her.

Trees still created a canopy and brush was everywhere, not seeming to clear at any time or show any sign of showing mercy. Her scent grew stronger and stronger, until it seemed like she was right in front of them…or should be. Then all of a sudden, the trees grew less and less thick, and the forest dipped into a large clearing, yards in width.

Kirara landed, and off hopped Sango, Miroku, and Shippou. Kirara went back to her smaller form, looking up at the group.

"She's here." InuYasha breathed, looking for any sight of her around the clearing. The sun had set, and the moonlight fell on the ground before them, fog beginning to gather. Sango squinted through it's murky depths, waving her hand to try and split the fog, but having no luck.

"Where is she…?" Miroku said, looking from the fog to InuYasha.

"Does it look like I know?"

"Well, no, but I thought you may have picked up a scent."

"That's why I know she's here."

Wind began to blow, sending a cold shiver down InuYasha's spine, and for a brief moment there was silence. The breeze died suddenly, and through the fog on the other side of the clearing, the outline of a figure appeared.

Silence fell over everyone, and InuYasha could feel her gaze on him. He stepped forward, Kagome still in his arms. There was nothing he could do. He felt weakened around her, yet strength laid in his arms. Finding a balance seemed to grow more and more difficult. He knew who he had chosen, but not if it was the right decision. He grew yet more unsure as the figure came closer. InuYasha's heart skipped a beat, and he felt his grip loosen on Kagome.

"Kikyou?" he breathed.

The figure stopped, and the fog grew less and less thick. "Yes." Her voice uttered. It was cold and toneless, as she had obviously seen who lay in his arms, who he had seemingly chosen.

"Kikyou, I have to know why you did this…I can't move further until I know." InuYasha said firmly, looking from Kikyou to Kagome.

"Why else would I want Kagome to be gone from this earth?" InuYasha looked back to her.

"You did want her dead…didn't you?"

"I never wanted her to exist. She has no idea what it's like to die unloved…"

"You wanted her to suffer." InuYasha said firmly, tension growing in his voice, anger building up inside of him.

"To see what it was like. But I never killed her."

"She's dying, and it's your fault. How can you not call that killing?"

Silence fell over the two.

"You've lied to me Kikyou…this can't have been the only time, either." InuYasha said softly.

Kikyou gave a small short intake of breath. She knew he had figured out a great deal, and it couldn't be hidden longer. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"Was everything a lie Kikyou?" he snapped.

"No…" she said softly, timidly. Kikyou had never seemed to be scared, but now, her voice quaked. "It wasn't…it was real."

"Did you even take away her soul?"

"Yes, I had reason to…I longed for it."

She stopped.

"I longed to be with you, InuYasha."

The longing…did she truly love him after all this time? Or was it that sense of longing she had just spoke of? Maybe she seemed so used to having him around and didn't want to loose that. Maybe her love had dissipated, and longing had taken place of it, without anyone – even Kikyou – realizing it.

"If you loved me, Kikyou, you wouldn't hurt me." InuYasha said. He turned back to Sango and Miroku and walked towards them, handing Miroku Kagome. He stroked her hair softly, muttering to her…

"You'll be back soon, don't give up."

This would be the hardest thing he ever had to do, to kill her, after so many things had happened between them – good and bad. He turned back to face Kikyou, his hand on Tessiga, ready to draw it.

"Wait." Kikyou said.

InuYasha raised an eyebrow at her.

"Just once more…" Kikyou said as she approached him, reaching her hand out to touch his face, a feeling of cold spreading through InuYasha. He reached up and grabbed her hand, shaking his head.

"No." he said firmly. "I don't think you understand what feeling flows through you."

Kikyou's eyes widened. "And what feeling is that?"

"Longing. Not love. I think that may have gone away."

"I'm sorry."

"I am, too."

Why had he refused? Did he not want to remember her like this? Did he really want her to die unloved…? Taking a deep breath, InuYasha put his own hand up to her face, cradling it and pulling it close, pressing his lips against hers, then pulling apart. A brief kiss…one she hadn't taken.

"You don't have to ask, Kikyou." InuYasha muttered in her ear before her pulled away. Kikyou looked at him, tears brimming in her eyes. He couldn't let it affect him…it couldn't… She understood. If she had any feeling of love remaining, she had to understand.

Kikyou stepped back and closed her eyes, giving him a nod. He had to finish it. InuYasha put his hand on Tessiga once again, ready to draw it. He gave it a turn and drew it, the sword becoming larger, in it's true form. He put both hands on it, his entire body shaking.

'No second thoughts…this is it.'

"I'm sorry, Kikyou." He whispered.

"It's ok." She mouthed. InuYasha swore he could see her face shining with tears….

He took a breath and Kikyou opened her eyes. Tessiga had been swung at her mid section, swiftly and quickly. A shattering noise echoed in the air, and a small 'oh' was uttered from her mouth. Her skin had been broken, not sliced, and nothing poured from her when blood should have. She had died a third time.

InuYasha held his sword still, looking at where she used to stand breathlessly, speechlessly. Then one person came to mind…

'Kagome…!'

InuYasha heard a large, terrified gasp come from behind him. He whipped around, remembering he had left Kagome in Miroku's arms. He ran to her, looking down at her from above, her dark eyes filled with confusion and fear. InuYasha grabbed her away from Miroku, holding her tight.

"Are you ok?" he uttered, supporting her head against him as he set her down on the ground so she could stand.

"I'm – I'm fine…" she whispered, her own body shaking as she threw her arms around him. "I thought I had died, and thought you didn't love me as I took my last breath." InuYasha's eyes widened.

"Kagome…it's my fault this happened…"

"It was a stupid mistake, it's ok."

"And I wouldn't ever let you die like that…it's happened before…"

The two pulled apart, their hands around each other's waists as the looked at each other.

"Ahem." Came Miroku's voice. The twosome jerked apart, both crimson, putting their hands by their sides. InuYasha put Tessiga back in the sheath, thankful it was night. Sango had already pulled Kagome into an embrace, rocking her back in forth, crying and claimed she 'never thought she'd see her again.' Kagome patted her on the back, looking over Sango's shoulder at InuYasha with a look of confusion.

"Wait…" Kagome said, pulling away from her. "InuYasha, what happened to Kikyou?"

"It's not important. Let's go." He said after a moment of silence. Kagome stared at him, tilting her head as the other three hopped of a transformed Kirara's back. "Well are you gonna walk back?" he snapped.

"No…" she said as she walked to InuYasha, hoisting herself on his back, putting her arms around his neck and holding to him tightly. InuYasha put his hands under her knees, making sure she was supported and wouldn't fall off. The group then took off once again into the night, and InuYasha didn't leave a glance at the sight.

'Things wont be the same…Kagome doesn't even know what happened…and I'm going to have to tell her sooner or later. But for now, all that matters is that –'

"I'm so glad I'm with you again, InuYasha." Kagome whispered in his ear as she laid her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. "I thought I was dead, but then I woke up."

"It's just a bad dream now." He said back to her. "Nothing but that."

"It's more than –"

"It can be forgotten."

"What happened to her, InuYasha?"

He shook his head. "She's just gone Kagome."

"Why…what –"

"I had to kill her to get your soul." Something grabbed his heart a moment, then let go.

"You did what?" Kagome said, a strong note of surprise in her voice.

"I killed her."

"For –"

"Yes, you."

"InuYasha…"

"Can't you drop it?"

"Stop." She said quickly. InuYasha did and let her down. Kagome faced him, disbelief and a smile on her face. "You…you chose me?"

InuYasha looked away and turned crimson yet again. "Er, yeah…"

"Oh, InuYasha!" she said overjoyed, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"Hey, hey!" he said, pushing her off of him a moment. The two looked at each other, both blushing.

"I –" Kagome started, but InuYasha made a shhing noise, and reached his hand to her face. Kagome flinched at the situation, startled. "InuYasha…" she said softly.

"Hugging gets a bit old sometimes." He said to her, pulling her closer, until their faces where mere inches apart.

"Thank you…" Kagome whispered.

"Any time." InuYasha responded. And with that, InuYasha pressed his lips against hers, putting her other hand around her waist, pulling her in. Kagome threw her arms around his neck, pulling her own self closer, if possible at all. They broke apart, looking at each other, in disbelief at what they had done.

"Um…wow." Kagome said, reaching behind her head. She smiled at him, and hopped back on his back. "Come on, they'll think we got lost."

"Oh, right…" InuYasha said, bolting off in the direction of Kaede's hut.

Kagome felt so alive, and so full. Everything had been ok…

But InuYasha, couldn't help but feel a bit empty. Of course, he did have Kagome now, but as much as he wanted to escape it, he would never be a whole, knowing what he had done. He would just have to settle for what he always would be, no matter what happened…

All he could be, was incomplete.

- End -

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Woah. I finished a fan fiction! R&R please, I may write an epilogue if it strikes me too. Thank you guys so much for support, I had a lot of fun making this up and hearing what you all thought!

Also, for any of you who enjoy Detective Conan or Magic Kaito, my next fan fic will be themed in that series!

Once again, thanks for your support, sorry if this chapter is sloppy. Half of it was written in the middle of the night while I was role playing.

Thanks you guys!

Skye